In the wake of her death last week, Parton’s estate revealed in a press release on Monday that the festival will now be held in 2027 to honor her legacy.
“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” Nozell said. “A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, DOLLYFEST is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!).”
The festival will take place in both Nashville and London, and “will be the party of a lifetime she wanted to share with the world,” according to the release. Parton’s estate has not yet shared details about the specific dates it will be held or the performers it will feature, but said that more information about the event would be shared at a later date.
“We are not discouraging people from celebrating Dolly in the ways they choose,” Nozell said. “However, as far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. So, instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then, see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly.”
